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Celebrated during the first week of May, Public Service Recognition Week (PSRW) honors the people who serve our nation as federal, state, county, local and tribal government employees.

This year, PSRW comes at a time when being a public servant is more challenging than ever. Federal civil servants are navigating a landscape that has dramatically changed over the past year, highlighted by arbitrary mass layoffs, agency closures and program terminations as well as unprecedented attacks on the worth and integrity of the nonpartisan civil service. At the same time, state and local governments are struggling to fill growing funding gaps with shrinking resources.

PSRW is a unique opportunity to reaffirm why civil servants matter for the broader public by championing those who continue to persevere and deliver for us all amid uncertainty.

As supporters, you can help promote for the people in your community the public servants who help fuel our democracy and keep America running.

Sign Up for
Public Service Recognition Week

Five Days of Action for  Federal, State and Local Government  Employees and Officials

From federal agencies to local community centers, public servants are the backbone of a functioning democracy. Download this toolkit to find concrete ways to recognize your employees, engage the public with stories of government service and join us in honoring the people who show up for us every day.

Download the toolkit
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Five Days of Action for  Individuals 

 From federal agencies to local community centers, public servants are the people who keep our communities running. Explore this toolkit for simple, meaningful ways to recognize the public servants in your life and the essential services they provide. Join us in showing up for the people who show up for all of us every day. 

Start the week by raising awareness and learning how to advocate for public service.

Share on social media

 Use this toolkit to help you recognize and honor the people who serve our nation at every level of government. 

Record a video

Prefer to create your own video? Use the template below to record a thank-you message to a public servant you know. Then, post it on a social media platform of your choice.

Need some inspiration? Click here to explore sample script language.

Attend our webinar

 Join us virtually at noon EDT to learn how to effectively engage members of Congress, craft your message and share your story of public service.

Register today

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Recognize the public health workers and federal scientists who advance critical research, programs and medical treatments that drive discovery and innovation and protect our public health.

Use our toolkit

Learn more about federal scientists and how you can help recognize and uplift their work by exploring our extensive communications toolkit. 

Download entire toolkit

Join us in person

Drop by our event at Eaton House in Washington, D.C., from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT, to connect with others celebrating the stories and history of public service.

RSVP today!

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As we approach America's 250th anniversary, this is your opportunity to help build a government of the people, by the people and for the people.

Coming soon - Share your thoughts

We all deserve a government that keeps us safe, healthy and secure. From 1776 to today, our government has evolved. Now, we want to hear from you about how it should continue to change for the future. From April 14 to May 18, submit your ideas, feedback and hopes for how your government can better serve your needs. 

More information coming soon

Honor a legacy

Many of us know at least one current or former public servant. Use our template to record a video talking about what that public servant means to you. Send it to the person you are recognizing and post it on social media. Tag us @rpublicservice and with #PSRW2026.

Highlight the public servants in your community and the vital services they provide.

Share community impact

Choose from our toolkit of pre-written social media videos to share the many ways public servants keep us safe, strong and healthy. 

Use this toolkit template to share why you admire public servants or how a specific public servant or government service has made a difference in your community. Make sure to tag your local agency. You can recognize local postal workers, park rangers, DMV staff, public health employees or other public servants.

More to come.

 

Every community includes current or former public servants who have committed to serving the public good. Take these five actions to ensure their story gets told.

PSRW pen icon Share a story

On our story wall, post about a public servant in your community who is making a difference. Use our suggested prompts to get started.

Prompts for current or former public servants

  • What inspired you to pursue a career in public service?
  • Tell us about a fellow public servant who inspires you or taught you something important.
  • Share a moment when you saw the direct impact of your work on a community.
  • What keeps you committed to public service amid chaos and uncertainty?
  • What is one thing about your work or the federal workforce that you wish more people understood?

Prompts for public supporters

  • Share a moment when a government employee went above and beyond to help you.
  • Who is a local government employee that deserves recognition for their dedication?
  • Describe what we would lose if the public servant you're thinking of wasn't there.
  • Tell us about a public servant you interact with regularly—what makes their work matter?

PSRW megaphone icon Amplify others

Read and reshare your favorite stories from our story wall.

PSRW envelope icon Stay connected

Sign up for our Five Stories of Public Service newsletter to learn how civil servants improve all our lives.

PSRW capitol building icon Contact your member of Congress

Use the sample letters below to urge your representatives to honor federal workers during Public Service Recognition Week and recommit to a merit-based civil service that works for all Americans.

Explore more

Continue to support the work of public servants all year round

Your opportunities to support and advocate for public servants do not end here. Government employees quietly keep our country moving every day and in every community across America.

As we close out Public Service Recognition Week, stay engaged by continuing to learn about exceptional public servants in your community and by advocating for a nonpartisan merit-based civil service.

Meet the Service to America Medals® honorees

 Learn about remarkable public servants and the impact of their work. Learn more. 

Celebrate 25 years of excellence

Read about how Service to America Medals® winners have shaped our country over the past quarter century. Learn more.

Understand the stakes

Explore our Federal Harms Tracker to see how sweeping and arbitrary cuts to federal programs, funding and personnel put communities across America at risk. Learn more.

Defend scientific integrity

Read our “Unraveling of Public Science” data and storytelling project to explore how the dismantling of the federal scientific community is affecting our health, safety and well-being. Learn more. 

Stay informed

Subscribe to our New Era of Government newsletter for updates on developing ideas and action plans to make government more effective, responsive and accountable. Sign up. 

 

Five Days of Action for  Organizations 

Proclaim the week as Public Service Recognition Week

Share the official PSRW resolution with community members, local officials and businesses, and ask them to pledge their support for public servants.

Download the PSRW resolution

Attend our webinar

 Join us at noon EDT for a webinar on how to effectively engage members of Congress, craft your message and share your story of public service. 

Register today

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Host an event for the public servants in your community

Host a networking event for public servants in your area. Submit your event details here or email us at yourstories@ourpublicservice.org so we can share it on our website.

Host a community event and invite members of the public to learn how haphazard federal workforce cuts are affecting people locally. Instruct attendees how to contact their representatives and senators, help them craft a personal story and show groups how to schedule in-person district office meetings.

Explore our Federal Harms Tracker to learn how the mismanagement of the government and its workforce is affecting your community. Share what you find with your stakeholders and community members.

Publish a letter to the editor, a newsletter or a blog

Use your platform to amplify stories about the critical role government services, programs and funding play in your community.

Customize one of our sample blog templates and share content with your audience.

Download our blog post template

Download our Op-Ed for local organizations template

Government by the People—Reimagining Government at 250

Coming soon - Share your thoughts

We all deserve a government that keeps us safe, healthy and secure. From 1776 to today, our government has evolved. Now, we want to hear from you about how it should continue to change for the future. From April 14 to May 18, submit your ideas, feedback and hopes for how your government can better serve your needs.

More information coming soon

Share your community's stories

Use our social media toolkit or download our templates to help you recognize and honor the people who serve our nation at every level of government. Be sure to use the hashtag #PSRW2026!

If you and your stakeholders want to amplify stories of public service, share them with us at yourstories@ourpublicservice.org. We will do our best to find creative ways to promote these stories to a national audience.

 

This work does not stop at the end of Public Service Recognition Week.

Below are concrete ways to tell policymakers and leaders across the country about the importance of a nonpartisan, merit-based federal workforce.

Volunteer your time and federal expertise

If you are a former public servant, fill out our Federal Community Intake Form to help us better understand your background, expertise and interests. We will follow up on potential opportunities to contribute to policy and advocacy efforts. Get involved.

Contact the White House

Urge the administration to approach reshaping the federal workforce with a thoughtful, transparent strategy in partnership with career civil servants. Contact them.

Participate in local town halls or community events

Share your story with your local community. Tell people about the work you did, the people you helped and why a nonpartisan, professional civil service matters.

Explore more actions you can take

Upcoming Events

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May 5 • 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT

Honoring Every Day Champions: Stories of support, service and hope

The Partnership for Public Service and Former Gov present a day of connection, resources and events to honor public servants past and present at the Former Gov Coworking Space at Eaton House in Washington, D.C.

IN PERSON

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May 4 • Noon to 1 p.m. EDT

Telling the Federal Workforce Story: A Guide to Congressional Meetings

Join the Partnership for Public Service on Monday, May 4, at noon EDT for a webinar on how you can effectively share your story of federal service with your members of Congress and state and local leaders.

VIRTUAL

Special Offers

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Join Former Gov for Free

In honor of Public Service Recognition Week and your public service, Former Gov is offering a FREE year of standard membership or 50% off premium membership.

At checkout, use code PSRWFGFREE for free standard membership or PSRWFGPREM for 50% off premium membership.

FREE MEMBERSHIP

Shaws Tavern DC

10% off at Shaw’s Tavern

Shaw’s Tavern is offering a 10% discount to current federal and local government employees throughout Public Service Recognition Week (May 3-9).

DISCOUNT

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Free Introduction to Improv Workshop

Washington Improv Theater is offering free introduction to improv workshop open to current and former federal workers. Registration is required.

FREE INTRODUCTION

Downloads

Throughout the country, mayors, governors, agency leaders, communities and public service organizations show appreciation to government employees by issuing proclamations, hosting award ceremonies, sharing stories of excellence in public service and more.

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How to celebrate PSRW

There are many simple, low-cost ways to celebrate public servants in your community during Public Service Recognition Week. Ideas range from sending letters to public employees to organizing a celebration showcasing the work of government agencies in your local area. Our guide provides a full list of suggestions and actions you can take during the week.

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Activities for Children

Share the #PSRW celebration with your little ones! Print out these activity sheets for your kids to enjoy during all of this time at home.

Partnering Organizations

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